Week 1 - Falcons @ Steelers -1

The Steelers will be thankful to have their home fans behind them in Week 1, as they’ll need all the help they can get with no Ben Roethlisberger and no Santonio Holmes. Matt Ryan and the Falcons will be a formidable challenge but I have a feeling Pittsburgh’s “D” will take it upon themselves to make a statement: that they can win without Ben.

Re: Week 1 - Falcons @ Steelers -1

Matt Ryan foresees 12 or 13 wins for the Falcons

Posted by Michael David Smith on May 8, 2010

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan isn't lacking in confidence.

Ryan believes the Falcons, who went 9-7 last season, will have an even better record in 2010 than they did when he led them to a surprise 11-5 finish as a rookie in 2008. And he's not shy about expressing that belief.

"We feel like we're a lot closer to 12 or 13 wins than we are to eight," Ryan said Saturday, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. "Last year was frustrating because we didn't make the playoffs, but you always want to be in the mix. You always want to be playing for something, and really until the last three weeks we were."

Ryan doesn't want to sound like he's making any guarantees, but he does believe the Falcons should be one of the league's best teams.